Unfortunately, you will not find a giant lake covered in lettuce plants within the limits of this park. However, it is still a natural sanctuary renowned for its sheer variety of Florida ecosystems, which you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with. The park takes you on an adventure via a series of wooden boardwalks, that wind their way through 240 acres of carefully preserved wildness. You’ll start at a freshwater wetland and flood plain, which boast an explosion of verdant greenery that’s home to tiny creatures. The silt and nutrients of the flood plains quietly power the entire ecosystem. Afterwards, the eco-system slowly shifts to an oak-dominated hardwood swamp forest, which also acts as a natural storage reservoir for floodwater and improves its water quality. Take a moment to stop and admire these magnificent specimens of their kind. You’ll intermittently come across the Hillsborough River as it cuts through the park, a fertile source of life that sustains much of the park’s natural processes. Even if you aren’t a hardcore nature lover, you’ll be amazed at how every aspect of your surroundings seems to coexist in harmony.